Socialize

President Koroma storms BKPS

…demands explanation for months of power outage

By Mohamed Massaquoi

President Koroma is determined to probe BKPS

Report reaching this medium reveals that President Ernest Bai Koroma’s recent visit to the headquarters of the Bo-Kenema Power Services (BKPS) has created panic among staff of the institution, especially as it emerged he was displeased about the dismal nature of electricity supply for residents of the twin south-eastern cities.

According to an in-house source, the main rationale of the president’s visit to BKPS facilities was to get firsthand information about the operations of the company, following public dissatisfaction over months of power outage in the two cities.

It was reported that President Ernest Bai Koroma was furious to have learnt that despite the government providing funds to the management of BKPS to strengthen the company’s capacity to provide reliable and affordable electricity, yet the management has been inept in providing electricity to residents of the two cities.

Reliable sources within BKPS revealed that the company has been collecting money from the Ministry of Energy and Power for the maintenance of six megawatts thermal plant in Bo, but the funds were allegedly misused.

“We have been providing funds to buy spare parts for the generators so that electricity can be provided during the dry season when the Dodo dam will be short of water. It is unfortunate to have noticed that there are still difficulties, I want more explanation regarding this company,” a displeased President Koroma was reported to have told the BKPS Board and Management.

It could be recalled that before his sacking, the former deputy Minister of Energy and Power, Martin Bash-Kamara, did summon a meeting at the BKPS head office in Bo to look into the status and state of electricity supply to towns and cities in both the southern and eastern provinces. The meeting, our source informed, discussed possibilities to outsource a power generating company to supplement electricity supply to both cities, especially during the dry season when the dam at Dodo in Kenema District dries up, and the generators in Bo are expected to provide power to the two towns.